If Keith Hernandez ever decides to step away from the New York Mets broadcasting booth, he still has a pretty reliable side hustle. The legendary former first baseman recently revealed that he still pulls in a solid annual paycheck from his iconic guest appearances on the hit 90s sitcom Seinfeld.
Here is a look at the gift that keeps on giving for the baseball legend, and how his residuals compare to other famous athletes who appeared on the show.
The Infamous “Magic Loogie” Episode
After hanging up his cleats, Hernandez tested his acting chops by playing himself in three episodes of the beloved sitcom. His most famous appearance came in the classic 1992 two-part episode, “The Boyfriend.”
In the episode, Hernandez strikes up a romance with Elaine Benes. However, he quickly runs into trouble with Kramer and Newman. The duo harbors a deep grudge against the baseball star over a “magic loogie” spitting incident stemming from a real-life game on June 14, 1987. The episode cemented the phrase “I’m Keith Hernandez” in pop culture history.
The Ultimate Residual Check
Because “The Boyfriend” is widely considered one of the best episodes of the series, it plays heavily in syndication. That means Hernandez still gets a cut every time it airs.
“It varies, but I can tell you that on an annual basis I’m getting close to $5,000 still,” Hernandez recently revealed on the SI Media Podcast. “It’s the gift that keeps giving. Remember one thing: I was the guest star.”
How Other Players Compare
Hernandez is not the only New York baseball star cashing Seinfeld checks. Former New York Yankees outfielder Paul O’Neill appeared in the season 7 episode, “The Wink.” In this storyline, Kramer promises a hospitalized boy that O’Neill will hit two home runs in a single game.
In 2024, O’Neill admitted that he also receives residual checks for his cameo, but they are significantly smaller than the Mets legend’s payout.
“Yeah, they’re like 57 bucks,” O’Neill joked during a Yankees broadcast. “It’s not big time. It’s a good reminder, though, that you were on the show. It’s kinda cool.”
A Yankees Heavy Sitcom
Seinfeld creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David famously packed the show with baseball references. Alongside Hernandez and O’Neill, several other Yankees made cameos over the years.
Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Danny Tartabull, and manager Buck Showalter all appeared on the series. Larry David himself famously provided the voice for the recurring, eccentric character of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner!
